About the Doctors

All of our doctors are specialist Dentist Anesthesiologists and have completed an accredited dental anesthesiology residency programs. All doctors are, or are in the process of becoming, Board Certified Diplomates with the American Dental Board of Anesthesiology.

During their training at level I trauma centers, they received extensive training in various anesthesia techniques including intubated general anesthetics, spinal/epidural/regional anesthetics, non-intubated/open airway anesthetics and many moderate/conscious sedation anesthetics. Patients ranged from ASA I to ASA IV undergoing a multitude of medical and dental procedures. They have also completed rotations in both internal medicine and cardiology. A particular area of focus in the program consisted of delivering specialized and individually tailored anesthetics to pediatric patients and patients with different special needs.

CarePoint is one of the largest and most experienced and respected dental anesthesia groups in the state of Colorado. It is also one of largest groups in the country made up entirely of Dentists Anesthesiologist specialists. CarePoint Anesthesia has built a solid foundation and continues to set high standards within a growing specialty of dentistry.

In Colorado, our doctors have continued to stay involved in the academic realm, as Clinical Associate Instructors at University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine and Course Instructors at the Community College of Denver Hygiene Program. They also lecture for the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology, American Society of Dental Anesthesia and for the Advanced Education of General Dentistry programs.

Dr. Joshua Jackstien

Dr. Jackstien grew up enjoying the Rocky Mountains of Salt Lake City, Utah. He attended college in Utah where he studied business and medical biology. He spent two years living in Guatemala serving his church and when he returned he graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Business Administration. Dr. Jackstien and his wife Jessica then moved to Philadelphia where he attended dental school at Temple University. Dr. Jackstien graduated Summa Cum Laude from Temple along with other awards and accolades.

Dr. Jackstien and his family moved to Columbus OH in order to attend The Ohio State University’s Oral and Maxillofacial Anesthesiology program. Currently, Dr. Jackstien is one of the lead anesthesiologists at CarePoint Anesthesia and also teaches Anesthesia and emergency management at the CU’s school of dental medicine. He also travels throughout the country to lecture on the topic of anesthesiology, most notably Harvard school of dental medicine. He has served on many dental anesthesia related boards and committees including the American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists. He also serves as one of Colorado’s State Dental Anesthesia Permit inspectors.

Dr. Jackstien, his wife Jessica and their two young girls Everest and Hadley enjoy everything outdoors and the mountains of Colorado are their playgrounds. Dr. Jackstien and his family enjoy skiing, Mt Biking and spending time together exploring the great outdoors.

Dr. Kristopher Smith

Dr. Smith grew up in the Reno Tahoe area of Nevada. He studied medical biology at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. After studying in Australia he completed his doctrine in dental medicine at the UNLV School of Dental Medicine. Upon graduation from dental school, Dr. Smith moved to Los Angeles where he completed a dental anesthesia residency at UCLA. Dr. Smith grew up snow boarding near Lake Tahoe was excited to be back in the mountains enjoying biking, camping and snowboarding. Dr. Smith is a board certified diplomate of the American Dental Board of Anesthesiology.

Dr. Celine Taller

Dr. Taller grew up between Northern New Jersey and sunny San Diego, eventually following her love of the ocean to UC Santa Barbara, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies. She went on to receive her Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) and Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees from the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health.

Dr. Taller completed her General Practice Residency at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, NY, where she discovered her passion for dental anesthesia—and met her husband. She continued at St. Barnabas as Chief Resident in Dental Anesthesia, gaining extensive experience in providing safe and compassionate care to patients with a wide range of medical and dental needs.

After four years in New York, Dr. Taller and her husband moved to Colorado to begin a new chapter. They are now happily settled in their dream home, raising their toddler daughter and enjoying the natural beauty of the state.

When she’s not in the office, Dr. Taller enjoys cooking, snowboarding, traveling, and relaxing with a good book. As an anesthesiologist, she is dedicated to creating a calm, comfortable experience for each patient, with safety and personalized care at the heart of everything she does.

Dr. Sheila Aryana

Dr. Aryana is a board certified dentist anesthesiologist and Colorado native who grew up right here in Denver, Colorado! She completed her
undergraduate education at the University of California- Berkeley and received her bachelor’s degree in Integrative Biology. Dr. Aryana returned to Colorado where she attended dental school at the University of Colorado- School of Dental Medicine where she graduated with
honors.

It was in dental school where Dr. Aryana first became interested in the field of dental anesthesiology. She spent time shadowing with many of the CarePoint Anesthesia providers during her dental school training. She attended The Ohio State University where she completed her dental anesthesiology residency and received her master’s degree.

In her free time Dr. Aryana enjoys skiing and snowboarding, as well as hiking, traveling, cooking, and reading. Dr. Aryana is excited to be back in Colorado and practicing with CarePoint Anesthesia, the group that helped shape her anesthesia career!